Grain separator



March 31, 1925. 1,531,803

C. E. M NEAL GRAIN SEPARATOR Filed April 18, 1 23 2 Sheets- Sheet 1 March 31'. 1925.

- C. E. M NEAL GRAIN SEPARATOR Filel April 18. 1923 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented Mar. El. 1925.

CHARLES MONEAL, or ronnsrvrnnn; NEW' YORK.

GRAIN SEPAEATOR.

Application filed April 18,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Craannns E. McNnAL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Forestville, in the county of Chautauqua and State of New York, have inventeda new and useful Improvement in Graln Separators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to grain separators of the kind which arecommonly employed for separating oats, cookie and other foreign seeds and impurities from wheat by means of shaking screens.

In separators of this kind the granris frequently supplied successively to a series of screens, one of which has openings of greater size than the wheat and another which has openings smaller than wheat, so that particles larger than wheat are separated from the wheat in the first-mentioned screen and particles smaller than wheat are separated by the latter screen. It has been found however, that oats, for example, which are longer than wheat and which should be separated from the wheat by the first-mentioned screen, freqi'iently pass through the screen when the kernels of oats assume substantially upright positions, so that they can pass endwise through the openings in the screen, and similarly some kernels of wheat pass through the smaller perforations of the latter screen and are consequently discharged from the machine with the small foreign seeds and impurities.

The objects of this invention are to provide means which cooperate with the screens for preventing seeds longer man the openings in the screen from passing endwise through the openings; also to provide a construction whereby these means may be adjusted relatively to the screens to readily enable the separator to effect the desired separation; also to provide means for keep ing the screens clear during the operation of the separator; and also to improve the construction of separators of this kind in other respects hereinafter specified.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional eleva tion of a grain separator embodying'my invention.

Fig. 2-is an enlarged longitudinal fragmentary sectional elevation'thereof showing the portion of the screen and traveling belt cooperating theren ith.

1923. Serial no. 632,814.

Fig. dis a fragmentary sectionalele'va' tion of one of the screens of the separator. Fig. 4: is a perspective view showing the connection between the screen and the shale ing frame therefor.

'The frame of the maehinemay'be of any suitable or desired construction, that shown,

including front} and rear frame" members A and A connected by upper and lower longitudinal frame members wand a and in clined frame members a and a are prefer ably also provided. The grain to besepa rated is fed to the machine 'througl'i a feed chute B'and'passes upon an inclined screen C mounted on a sha-king'frame D. In the particular construction shown the screen C is provided with perforations 0 throughwhich the wheat or otherinate'rial which is to be separated from foreign material may pass, and larger material passes over the upper surf-ace of the screen and is discharged from the machine at the rear end thereof in the discharge trough (Z ofthe shalzing frame D. The material passing through the openings in the screen is received in a trough or chute cl mounted on the shaking frame and the discharge end of thescre'en is arranged adjacent to the upper end of a second screen E mounted on a shaking frame F. Preferably the perforations c'in' the second screen are of such size as to prevent wheat from passing therethi'oiigh, so that the wheat is discharged from the end of the screen andpasses out of themachine through a discharge spout f of the shaking frame F. The small seed and foreign m'at-. ter which passes through the openings in the screen collects in a chute f and is discharged from the machine.

The means forshaking the frames D and F may be of any usual or suitable'construction, those shown including rotatable 'eccen [tries G mounted on a'shaft g." The"-ec'cen trics actuate links 9 and g whi'eh in'turn'; through the mediumof bell cranks g 'and cause links "g and to" reciprocate; which links are directly connected s en tively to the shaking frames 1) and'Ff All of the parts'hereinbefore described have been used in, connection with grain separa" tors-and of themselves" constitute nopartof this invention, except as hereinafter" specified. v p

It has been found that 'intheseparating' of wheat and other grains," longer particles will sometimes pass through the openings in a screen which is intended to permit only wheat or smaller particles to pass. For example, kernels of cats which are considerably longer than those of wheat may pass through the relatively short openings in the screen by assuming upright positions so that they pass endwise through the openings in the screen. In order to prevent longer particles from passing endwise through the screen, I have Pl'OVl ClGCl surfaces beneath the screen which are positioned in such close proximity to the screen as to permit only the desired particles to pass through the openings in the screen and to D I Prevent any p les from passing endwise through the openings. These surfaces, as

-used in connection with the screens C and runs of belts H which pass over pulleys or rolls h and 7t. -These pulleys or rolls are mounted on shafts it? which may be rotated by any suitable or desired means, not shown, and which are journalled in the frame members a and at. These belts are so positioned relatively to the screens that they will permit particles of the desired size to pass through the openings in the screen but will prevent longer particles from pass ing endwise through these openings, as is illustrated clearly in Fig. 2. The belts are preferably actuated to travel in the directions indicated by the arrows in Figs. 1 and 2, and carry the particles passing through the openings in the screen in a direction opposite to the direction in which the par ticles travel on the upper surface of the screen. The particles passing through the openings in the screen. are consequently discharged from the belts as they pass over the upper pulleys or rolls it. Since the particles may pass through the openings in the screens rather rapidly, it is desirable to make the belts as short as possible and to provide a plurality of belts for each screen. For this purpose, the screens C and E, (s shown, are provided with two sets of perforations arranged above the two belts shown in the drawings and the remaining portions of the screens are imperforate.

In the operation of the separator, any particles longer than the openings in the screens will be prevented from passing on tirely through these perforations since the ends of these long particles will strike the belts. .Means are preferably provided for moving the particles that have passed partly through the openings in the screen back through the openings to the upper surface of the screen so as to keep the openings in the screen clear, and for this purpose the belts are provided at intervals with camlike ribs or projections T which are so formed as to engage the particles extending partly through the openings and move them upwardly through the openings back to the upper surface of the screen. For this purpose, in the construction shown, the ribs or projections I are preferably made of slightly resilient material and secured along one edge only, as indicated at 2', to the belts. The other edges of these ribs preferably are arranged to extend under cleats a" which permit movement of these edges of the ribs during the deflection of the ribs. These ribs may be arranged at intervals on the belts and serve to clear openings in the screen of any long particles which may have become lodged in the screen. Other means for keeping the openings in the screens clear may be provided.

The distance at which the belts are spaced. from the screens has an important bearing on the efliciency of the separator and consequently means are preferably provided whereby the distance between the grain-receiving surfaces of the belt and the screens may be adjusted as desired. In the construction shown for this purpose, the screens are adjustably mounted on the shaking frames, the screens being pivotally connected with the shaking frames by means of a series of parallel links K, each of which is pivoted at one end on the shaking frame and at its other end on the frame I: of the screen. By moving the screen in the direction of its length, the screen will be swung about the parallel links K and can con sequently be raised or lowered as desired.

lillcans of any suitable constri'iction may be used for holding the screens in the de sired relation with reference to the shaking frames and to the parallel links K. In the construction shown for this purpose, an ad justing screw L is provided having a threaded engagement with a nut or the like Z suitably secured in the shaking frame. The other end of the adjusting screw is provided with an annular groove Z adapted to engage in a slot Z of a plate Z see Fig. 4, in such a manner that as the adjusting screw is turned to transmit lengthwise movement to the screen, the screen may move vertically relativelv to the end of the adjusting screw. The operation of this ad" justment will be readily understood by re;- ferring to Fig. 3, in which the screen is shown in full lines in a position relatively close to the belt, and the dotted lines indicate the position of the screen after the same has been moved in thedirection of its length, and consequently also raised relatively to the shaking frame. By providing means for adjusting the screen relatively to the grain-receiving surface of the belt, the machine can readily be set so as to'operate to best advantage on various grades and kinds of grain seed, and the distance between the screen and the belt can be ad lilt justed with great accuracy. Any other means for holding the screen in the desired relation relatively to the shaliing -tran'ie may be employed if desired.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a grain separator, the combination of a screen, and means arranged under ally of the openings in said screen at a definite distance below said screen, said distance being less than the length of particles of material which it is desired to exclude, to prevent particles longer than said distance from said means to said screen "from passing through said openings, and mechanism for producing relative movement between said screen and said means to cause material passing through said screen to be dis charged from said means.

2. In a grain separator, the combination of a screen, movable means arranged at a slight distance below said screen. to permit parts of the grain which is being separated and which pass through the openings in said s-reen to be'deposited on said means, the distance from said screen to said means being less than the length of particles of material which it is desired to exclude to prevent such particles from passing through said openings.

3. in a grain sepaator, the combination of a screen, and a traveling belt arranged at a slight distancebelow said screen to permit parts of the grain which is eing sep ated and which pass through the openin said screen to be deposited on said belt. the distance from said screen to said ng less-than the length of particles of material to be excluded to prevent particles longer than the distance from said belt to said screen from passing through said openings.

In a grain separator, the combination of a screen, the distance from said screen to said means being le'ssthan the length of the particles to be excluded, means arranged under the openings in said screen to prevent particles longer than the distance from said means to said screen from passing through said openings, and a device operating at in t rvals on the lower surface of said screen to return to the upper face. of said screen any of said longer particles projecting through openings in said screen.

Ina grain separator, the combination of a screen, a traveling belt arranged under the openings in said screen in immediate proximity to said screen and upon which material passing through said openings is deposited the distance from said screen to said belt being less than the length of particles of material which it is desired to exclude to prevent particles longer than the distance from said belt to said screen from passing through said openings, and means on said belt for returningto the belt bei upper face of said screenany of saidlonger particles projecting through said openings.

6. In a grain separator, the combination of a screen, a traveling belt having'its up per run arranged at a definite distance from said screen below the openings in said screen, upon which material passing through said openings is deposited :andwhich prevents particles longer than the' distance between said screen and the upper run of said belt from being deposited on said belt, and a transversely extending rib on said belt adapted to passthrough the space between said bclt and said screen and return to the upper surface of said screen any of said longer-5particles projecting through open: ings in said screen.

7.111 agrain separator, the combination of a screen, a traveling .belt having its upper run'arranged at axlefinite distance from said. screen below the openings in said screen,--upon which material passing through said openings is deposited and which prevents part'isles longer than the distance be tween saio screen and the upperfrun of said belt from being deposited on said belt, and a transversely extending rib On -said belt adapted to pass through the'space between said helt'and said screen andhaving an inclincd face adapted to engage the longer particles projecting through openings in saic screcnand to push the same upwardly through said openings to the upper surface 0? said screen.

S. In a grain separator, the combination oi? aninclined screen having a plurality of sets of openings therein, and a traveling'bel-t arranged underneath said screen and in dotinite spaced reiationsbelow each of said sets of openings and adapted to-receive material passing throughv said openings, the distance from said screen-to said-means being less than the length of the particles to be e1:- cludcd, to prevent particles longer than the distance between said screen and said belts from passing through said openings. 1

9. Inc grain separator, the combination of a. pair of inclined screens, one of said screens having openings through which wheat may pass and the other screen having openings through which particles smaller than wheat may pass, belts arranged underv said screens'withtheir upper runs arranged in proximity to-said openings and adapted to receive material passing through said openings, the distance from said screen to said means being less than the length of the particles to be excluded, to prevent material longer than the distance between said upper runs and said screens from passing through said openings, and means for subjecting the grain successively to said screens.

10. In a grain separator, the combination of an inclined screen, a. grain-receiving surface arranged beneath said screen to receive llO screen and to prevent particles longer than I the distance between said surface and said screen from passing through said openings, and means; for effecting relative adjustmentto vary the distance between said surface and said screen.

11. In a grain separator, the combination of a screen, a shaking frame on which said screen is mounted, said frame having a shaking movement in a direction substantially parallel with said screen, means arranged below the openings in said screen at a definite distance from said screen to receive grain passing through said openings and to prevent particles longer than the distance from said means to said screen from passing through said openings, and means for adjusting said screen with reference to said grain-receiving means.

12. In a grain separator, the comlnation of a screen, a shaking frame on which said screen is mounted, said frame having a shaking movement in a direction substantially parallel with said screen, a grain-receiving surface arranged below said screen and spaced relatively to said openings so that particles longer than the distance between said surface and said screen will be prevented from passing through said openings, and means for adjusting said screen relatively to said frame to vary the distance between said screen and said surface.

13. In a grainseparator, the combination of an inclined screen, a grain-receiving surface'arranged beneath said screen to receive grain passing through the openings in said screen and to prevent particles longer than the distance between said surface and said screen from passing through said openings, a frame on which said screen is mounted, parallel links connecting said frame and said screen, and means for holding said screen in different relations to said frame to vary the distancebetween said screen and said surface.

1a. In a grain separator, the combination of an inclined screen, a traveling belt arranged below said screen and having its upper run arranged in spaced relation to said screen and adapted to receive grain passing through the openings in said screen and to carry said grain away from said openings, said belt also engaging particles longer than the distance between said belt and said screen to prevent the same from passing through said openings, and means for adjusting the distance between said belt and said screen.

15. In a grain separator, the combination of an inclined screen, a traveling belt ar ranged below said screen and having its upper run arranged in spaced relation to said screen and adapted to receive grain passing through the openings in said screen and to carry saidgrain away from said openings, saidbelt also engaging particles longer than the distance between said belt and said screen to prevent the same from passing through said openings, a shaking frame on which said screen issupported, parallel links on wiich said screen is suspended from said. frame, and means for adjusting said screen in a direction to vary the positions of said links and thereby to change the distance between said screen and said belt.

16. In a grain separator, the combination of a screen, traveling belt having its upper run arranged at a definite distance from said screen below the openings in said screen, upon which material passing through said openings,is deposited and which pre vents particles longer than the distance between said scrcen and the upper run of said belt from being deposited on said belt, and a transversely extending rib on said belt adapted to pass through the space between said belt and said screen and comprising a strip of metal having bends extending transversely of the belt and secured at its leading edge to the belt and having its other edge free to move lengthwise of the belt.

17. In a grain separator, the combina tion of a screen, a traveling belt having its upper run arranged at a definite distance from said screen below the openings in said screen, upon which material passing through said openings is deposited and which prevents particles longer than the distance between said screen and the upper run of said belt from being deposited on said belt, a transversely extending rib on said belt adapted to pass through the space between said belt and said screen and comprising a strip of metalhaving bends extendingtransversely of the belt and secured at its leading edge to the belt and having its other edge free to move lengthwise of the belt, and a cleat secured to said belt and covering said other edge.

CHARLES \lcNEAL.

til

Certificate of Correction.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,531,803, granted March 31, 1925, upon the application of Charles E. lVIcNeal, of Forestville, New York, for an improvement in Grain Separators, an error appears in the printed specification requiring correction as follows: Page 3, line 48, claim 4:, beginning with the Word the strike out all to and including the word excluded in line 45 and insert the same to follow the word screen in line 46, same page and claim; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Oflice.

Signed and sealed this 5th day of May, A. D. 1925.

[SEAL] I KARL FENNING, Acting Commissioner of Patents. Li v .1 

